Post #287926 by Tamapoutini on Sat, Feb 24, 2007 1:18 PM

[i]On 2007-02-24 09:56, 8FT Tiki wrote:[/i

When it comes to ideas, I have always been a real fan of the brainstorming session. When you get with a group of folks and just let ideas flow. I believe it is much more sucessful to do in person than in a cyber environment though mostly because of the simultaneous concentration of those assembled. If I had more carvers located near by like some of you do, I would like to have regular get togethers to just discuss ideas and throw out suggestions for projects or group work. It is amazing what can emerge from these sessions. How are you deciding what art project to work on next? Are you just reaching in to the fish bowl and drawing something at random?

*You've just described the carvers version of a musos' jam-session! Rock on.

I also think the idea-fishbowl a good idea; in fact just having a PLACE for those loose-leaf jottings is a good idea! (the mental fishbowl gets a bit murky, eh?) Another good one is to carry a dictaphone, you can pick 2nd hand ones up really cheaply these days & can be very handy. I used to carry one for writing down lyrics as they came to mind. As we all know, inspiration can hit anytime. Getting off the point a bit perhaps? What was the point again?

Oh yeah; ideas happening quickly but the mortal carver too slow to bring them all to reality...
I believe that the mind/imagination is a 'novelty-machine', constantly turning things over & making connections that arent instantly apparent or better yet, werent there to begin with, but all 'etheric' stuff of course. It is up to the artist to actually make something happen in this world (where other people can see it) With so much random(?) creation buzzing away in the back-room there, it takes a bit of training/practice/discipline/self-control, etc to pull a concrete one from the noise. You have to really focus to transpose one from the mental realm into the physical & have it arrive as 'dreamed'. With the mind moving/responding to stimulus so rapidly, how many of you have felt the urge to change a work 1000 times as new ideas spring from what you have in front of you. Sometimes you let them evolve, sometimes you grit your teeth & carry on as intended (tucking the new thoughts into the mental fishbowl to be dredged for another day).

Phew - Im rambling (so many thoughts, heehee) Ill leave it there.

Yes, carving/creating is a pretty magical business when you really stop & think about it. I can honestly say that I stop & gives thanks to the fact that I am lucky enough to immerse myself in this stuff every day! I feel as though I have achieved success on a daily basis to be living this dream. pdrake's right; its not the most financially rewarding career; I know award-winning painters & sculptors/carvers who are living on the borderline of poverty & have shaken my fist at the sky many times at the injustice of it all. On the other hand though; how many people REALLY enjoy their work to the point where they would be doing it anyway, for no money? (in a hobby sence at least) I/they/we do this by choice & as long as we can survive on it, wouldnt have it any other way. WE are the lucky ones (shhhhhh.... dont tell 'The Man') :lol: :wink:

Tama :)